There's no crisis between Kenya and US, says Mudavadi
National
By
Irene Githinji
| Aug 08, 2025
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Thursday affirmed that there is no crisis between Kenya and US, saying diplomatic engagements between the nations are on course.
Mudavadi, who heads the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket, told the National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration that the call to review the non-Nato ally status for Kenya did not originate from the US government but was a private member’s Bill, Senator Jim Risch.
“We have no issues in the United States. There is no challenge whatsoever, and we are not downplaying the matter. Challenges may come up once. First of all, let it be on record that it is not the government of the United States that has raised the issue. It is not the Executive,” he said.
Noting that he a meeting with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his recent tour of the US, the CS said critics should not “politicise partnerships”.
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On the recent trade tariffs imposed for nations worldwide by President Trump, Mudavadi noted that Kenya is one of the beneficiaries of the lowest rates at 10 per cent. He added that the matter was still under negotiation.
“You just need to go to the media and you will find that some other African countries or other countries globally are being hit by higher tariffs. And that is obviously a direction that is being taken from the United States, not from Kenya. So, we should not have an exaggeration on this issue by some of our friends,” he said.
The CS also said the two countries have been engaging on other matters, citing the looming expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), a US trade preference programme for African exports.
If the American government is not renewing the framework for all African countries, he said each nation would engage the Trump government on its own. “I have been to the Trade Department and the minister portrayed this conversation, that we are working through our mission on this matter so that we can tackle the issues around the trade between us and the United States,” said Mudavadi.
“I also wish to state that there are some issues that some of us are also surprised about because we’re not listening to that. Kenya is a sovereign state and for whatever it is worth, the principle of sovereignty must be upheld and respected by all nations.”
He said Kenya was free to engage with other countries.
“On what basis do you come to a conclusion and say that you want to monitor the relations between one country? We have no challenge whatsoever in working with America. We are working very closely. We are working together on many other issues, both bilateral and regional programs, security-related programs. We are working together with the United States, and we also work with the other countries in the region.”
He also told the committee that the US passed a motion to extend Kenya’s mission in Haiti.
“I just want to ask for measured consideration of these issues when we are talking to each other. I think there is a concerted effort to try and create the impression that Kenya is under siege or under attack. We are not under siege. We are not under attack .”